Describes the nature of birds of prey (where they live, feed, and hunt), why these species are endangered, and what can be done to protect and preserve them.

The Artist as Animal in Nineteenth-Century French Literature traces the evolution of the relationship between artists and animals in fiction from the Second Empire to the fin de siecle. This book examines examples of visual literature, inspired by the struggles of artists such as Edouard Manet and Vincent van Gogh. Edmond and Jules de Goncourt's Manette Salomon (1867), Emile Zola's Therese Raquin (1867), Jules Laforgue's "At the Berlin Aquarium" (1895) and "Impressionism" (1883), Octave Mirbeau's In the Sky (1892-1893) and Rachilde's L'Animale (1893) depict vanguard painters and performers as being like animals, whose unique vision revolted against stifling traditions. Juxtaposing these literary works with contemporary animal theory (McHugh, Deleuze, Guattari and Derrida), zoo studies (Berger, Rothfels and Lippit) and feminism (Donovan, Adams and Haraway), Claire Nettleton explores the extent to which the nineteenth-century dissolution of the human subject contributed to a radical, modern aesthetic. Utilizing these interdisciplinary methodologies, Nettleton argues that while inducing anxiety regarding traditional humanist structures, the "artist-animal," an embodiment of artistic liberation within an urban setting, is, at the same time, a paradigmatic trope of modernity.

Claire is not your everyday practitioner of "urbex," the modern underground passion for "urban exploration" that lures 21st-century adventurers into the hidden labyrinths and decaying chambers of disused buildings and urban spaces. Claire is, you see, a bull terrier. And with her photographer companion, Alice Van Kempen, she has created the canine expression of the art . . . "furbex." Furbex is a dazzling photographic record of Claire's adventures among the abandoned spaces of Europe. It captures her ghostly presence in ruined hotels and grand houses; crumbling castles and palaces; forgotten theaters and cinemas. Fascinated by shadows and light, past and present, and the mysterious, dark worlds of abandoned places, Alice van Kempen uses thrift shop props and long exposures to create photographs with the air of Old Master paintings; while Claire's tragi-comic presence imbues every image with the pathos and comedy of a silent movie. The result is a haunting and hilarious gift book of unique photographs, which will appeal to urban explorers, dog lovers (most particularly the cult following of the bull terrier breed), and all lovers of the Gothic, the mysterious and the absurd.

In Dynamic Still Life for Artists, noted artist and instructor Sarah Sedwick presents detailed, step-by-step instruction and insights on the many creative possibilities that drawing and painting still lifes can offer. Develop observational skills by setting up and assessing various arrangements, groupings, and formats. Evaluate an arrangement's abstract shapes by creating black-and-white value studies. Learn the process of alla prima painting, from underpainting to color mixing to applying color. Featuring inspiring examples by other distinguished artists working in a variety of mediums, DynamicStill Life for Artists will encourage all artists, from aspiring to accomplished, to explore this timeless genre through new arrangements, styles, and visual studies, empowering them to develop and expand their creative and technical skills. The For Artists series expertly guides and instructs artists at all skill levels who want to develop their classical drawing and painting skills and create realistic and representational art.

Experience the beauty, essence and character of thirty North American bird species. Inspired by traditional Asian brushwork and haiku, the artwork and text by Vanessa Sorensen capture the quirky traits peculiar to each species. Zen Birds celebrates the amazing lives of birds--a must-have for any bird lover or nature enthusiast.

No one captures the graces and idiosyncrasies of cats quite like the painters, printmakers, and haiku masters of Japan. From the Edo to the Showa period, many artists turned their gaze toward an unlikely subject: their small feline companions. Closely observed portraits in words and ink elevate the everyday adventures of cats: taking a nap on a Buddha statue's lap, daintily eating a rice ball, courting the neighbor's cat. This curated collection of poems, prints, and paintings will leave you inspired to cultivate the serenity and wonder embodied by these creators - and by the cats themselves. Presented as a sweet, jacketed paperback with thoughtful design touches, this volume includes each poem in both English and Japanese.

"Her stunning images push boundaries and feature portraits of a wonderfully diverse selection of strong, bold people of all ages, races, and body types." - Loeidela Photographie "Inspirational, feminine and colourful..." - Flair Mode Magazin "...[pays] homage to all these forms of beauty that our society struggles to recognize".-Costanza Spina, Lense Alexandra Sophie is a French artist and renowned fashion and fine art photographer. Her work is described as sensual, fresh, and feminine, often entwining humans with nature. Alexandra Sophie's powerful and award-winning photographic work narrates stories on being human, the human being in environmental contexts - interwoven through floral themes - and explores identity through subjects such as sexuality, feminism, and interrogations on what constitutes the "normal" frontier. Alexandra's award-winning photography has gained international recognition, featuring collaborations and covers with high-fashion clientele, such as Swarovski, Cacharel, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Elle, and Harper's Bazaar UK, among many others; in 2018 Forbes named her as one to watch in its 30Under30 Europe profile. This highly illustrated book, which will include a preface written by Nathalie Colin (former Creative Director at Swarovski), comprises a lavish and rich portfolio of Alexandra's photographic portraits that is inspirational, beautiful, contemporary, and colourful. Her stunning images push boundaries and feature portraits of a wonderfully diverse selection of strong, bold people of all ages, races, and body types.

When we look at the landscape, what do we see? Do we experience the view over a valley or dappled sunlight on a path in the same way as those who were there before us? We have altered the countryside in innumerable ways over the last thousand years, and never more so than in the last hundred. How are these changes reflected in - and affected by - art and literature? Spirit of Place offers a panoramic view of the British landscape as seen through the eyes of writers and artists from Bede and the Gawain-poet to Gainsborough, Austen, W. G. Sebald and Barbara Hepworth. Shaped by these distinctive voices and evocative imagery, Susan Owens describes how the British landscape has been framed, reimagined and reshaped by each generation. Each account or work of art, whether illuminated in a manuscript, jotted down in a journal or constructed from sticks and stones, holds up a mirror to its maker and their world. With 80 illustrations

To study a plant in detail is to make a fascinating journey of discovery. Even plants we think we know well will often surprise us as we look at the intricacy of their structure and how they are put together. This fascinating guide explains what flowering plants are and their relationship to other groups of plants. With drawings, paintings and photographs throughout, it advises on how to carry out a botanical study and will prove essential reading for botanical artists, photographers and all those wishing to gain a greater understanding of flowering plants.

Originally published in 1971, Animals in Art and Thought discusses the ways in which animals have been used by man in art and literature. The book looks at how they have been used to symbolise religious, social and political beliefs, as well as their pragmatic use by hunters, sportsmen, and farmers. The book discusses these various attitudes in a survey which ranges from prehistoric cave art to the later Middle Ages. The book is especially concerned with uncovering the latent, as well as the manifest meanings of animal art, and presents a detailed examination of the literary and archaeological monuments of the periods covered in the book. The book discusses the themes of Creation myths of the pagan and Christian religion, the contribution of the animal art of the ancient contribution of the animal art of the ancient Orient to the development of the Romanesque and gothic styles in Europe, the use of beast fables in social or political satire, and the heroic associations of animals in medieval chivalry.

Designing a captivating creature simply for it to exist against a white background and going no further is a purely academic exercise. Designing a creature that can survive in a world, interact with its own and other species, and go on to make an impact, is designing with intent the end goal of creature design and what you'll witness in this latest book from industry veteran Terryl Whitlach. With decades of experience in the entertainment industry, developing creatures for Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace and Beowulf, among other projects, she offers valuable advice on how to develop otherworldly beings that are not just stunning in appearance, but also possess qualities that will endear viewers to them, or repulse, if that's the intent. For Whitlatch, there's no limit to what can be imagined with an open mind, though the journey may not always be an easy one. It's what she calls "chasing the unicorn." We will surely enjoy joining her on her journey, filled with creatures that are so vivid, whimsical, and elaborate that we will wish or wonder if they are real."

This is a sumptuous catalog of regional landscape paintings and the talented, living artists who create them, including Robert J. Barber, Denise Dumont, Michael Godfrey, Hai-Ou Hou, Abigail McBride, and Sam Robinson. It is packed with over 400 eye-catching color reproductions of work by some of today's finest plein air artists, including spectacular beach scenes, pastorals, cityscapes, and harbor scenes. This informative volume also includes a concise history of landscape painting in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, showing examples of great art of the past by some outstanding Mid-Atlantic painters, including the Pennsylvania Impressionists, the New Jersey Manasquan Art Colony, the Egelis, and much more. This volume fills an empty niche in the rich history of American art. It is an ideal book for anyone, who loves plein air landscape painting, and a wonderful introduction to traditional art of the region. It will appeal to art historians, dealers, and collectors alike.

Let Jerry Yarnell teach you how to paint acrylic landscapes

You can master landscape painting with the help of popular painter Jerry Yarnell. Jerry starts by exploring different areas of landscape painting that often create problems for beginning and intermediate artists. He'll walk you through individual studies, so you can practice and explore new techniques without worrying about ruining a complete painting, then he'll show you how to apply those techniques to create finished works of art.

Learn how to:

• Work with the right materials
• Master all essential techniques
• Choose, mix and apply color

Agrarian Landscapes in Transition researches human interaction with the earth. With hundreds of acres of agricultural land going out of production every day, the introduction, spread, and abandonment of agriculture represents the most pervasive alteration of the Earth's environment for several thousand years. What happens when humans impose their spatial and temporal signatures on ecological regimes, and how does this manipulation affect the earth and nature's desire for equilibrium?
Studies were conducted at six Long Term Ecological Research sites within the US, including New England, the Appalachian Mountains, Colorado, Michigan, Kansas, and Arizona. While each site has its own unique agricultural history, patterns emerge that help make sense of how our actions have affected the earth, and how the earth pushes back. The book addresses how human activities influence the spatial and temporal structures of agrarian landscapes, and how this varies over time and across biogeographic regions. It also looks at the ecological and environmental consequences of the resulting structural changes, the human responses to these changes, and how these responses drive further changes in agrarian landscapes.
The time frames studied include the ecology of the earth before human interaction, pre-European human interaction during the rise and fall of agricultural land use, and finally the biological and cultural response to the abandonment of farming, due to complete abandonment or a land-use change such as urbanization.

This Mini Sticky Book is a portable hardcover containing a full-colour sticky notepad for easy note and list-taking at home or on the road. durable, pocket-sized, hardcover book cardstock and fabric inside pocket for business cards, cash, receipts, stamps, etc. 130 full-colour illustrated note sheets book measures 127 x 89mm. We choose the best images from well-known classic and contemporary fine artists, plus talented emerging illustrators and designers from around the globe. Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) had an artistic career lasting only ten years. However, in those years he left behind an astounding legacy of painting that has endured to this day. He was a mad genius and he poured that passion into the trembling energy of his paintings. His canvases are celebrations of humanity & earth, colour & texture.

Artists can master a shorthand way to capture the movement and attitudes of birds--not always the most cooperative of models Birds have been featured in art for many thousands of years, but they pose a challenge to paint. By understanding their anatomy and recognizing their type, the artist can learn to capture movement and attitude. With technique and color mastered, style develops, and a special scene can be captured uniquely forever. This artists' resource explains bird types, and how identifying specific similarities can help the artist. It advises on painting in the field, using photographs, and working in the studio; describes how to paint plumage and birds in flight; and demonstrates how to compose a painting with emphasis on the birds' habitat. Thirty leading artists give their insights into painting birds, along with illustrations of their work, including John Busby--the author of "Drawing Birds"--Ontario's Robert Bateman, and Charles Tunnicliffe.

The Flora Collection contains 50 stunning colour postcards selected from the vast collection of original botanical artworks held at the the Library of the Natural History Museum, London. Stored in a chunky keepsake box with an internal ribbon, this collection represents the fascinating history of plants and flowers through exquisite botanical prints to keep, send or frame. Printed on high quality card, the set showcases many of the best-loved plant families including cacti, daffodils, iris, magnolia, poppies, roses, tulips and waterlilies. Featuring the work of some of the greatest botanical artists and explorers of all time, The Flora Collection is a delightful box set to share or savour.

This dazzling collection showcases the very best of the British Wildlife Photography Awards, presenting over 150 of the winning, commended and shortlisted images from the 2017 competition. Featuring a range of photography from world-leading professionals as well as inspired amateurs, it is a book that captures the magnificent diversity of the British Isles. British Wildiife Photography Awards is divided into the competition's fifteen categories, from Animal Portraits through to the Young People's Awards. Every photograph is beautifully reproduced in a large format, with detailed technical information alongside the photographer's personal account, to appeal to both photographers and natural historians.

Rich in symbolism and metaphor, and blessed with its own varied and dramatic palette, the garden has proved to be an extremely fertile source of artistic inspiration. In The Garden in Art, acclaimed art historian Debra N. Mancoff reveals the many different ways in which artists from all periods of history - from ancient Egypt to the present day - have employed the motif of the garden. Featuring more than 200 illustrations of both renowned and lesser-known works, the book approaches its subject thematically, exploring such topics as working gardens, the garden through the seasons and artists' gardens. Complete with a detailed timeline and a suggested list of gardens to visit, The Garden in Art is an absorbing and highly rewarding examination of the meaning and significance of the depiction of the garden.

Award-winning artist Angela Gaughan shares with you a life time's worth of experience in art. This book provides an insight into the distinctive techniques Angela Gaughan uses to achieve her amazingly detailed, life-like wildlife paintings. It is an inspirational guide to painting in acrylics; both for experienced artists who are interested in Angela's methods, and those wishing to improve their skills. Sumptuous colour is at the heart of Angela's vivid, beautiful art work. Her unique techniques combine the advantages of acrylics and oils. In this inspirational book, Angela shares with you a lifetime's worth of experience in art. Learn her unique approach to using acrylics to produce depth and character in your own wildlife artwork, and follow the step-by-step demonstrations as you build up your skills. The book begins with detailed coverage of the materials, tools and media Angela uses. Chapters on colour and light, gathering reference, and composition build upon Angela's working method guiding you through her stages of working, from using photographic references, through completing a tonal drawing, to using transparent washes and opaque colours to create a full painting. The instructional techniques then connect into substantial chapters on colour, composition and finish off with masterwork techniques to help more advanced artists push their artwork further.